Neck-yoke



Patented Aug. 2, I898.

8. J. McDDNALD. NECK YOKE.

(Application filed Sept. 10, 1897.) S

(No Modgl.)

V DD W/ TNE SSE S A TTORNEY UNI-Inn STATES PATENT SAMUEL J. MODONALD, oF' GALLAT'IN, MISSOURI.

NECK-YOKE.

SBEGIFIGATION'fOrmifig partof Letters Patent No. 608,474, dated August 2, 1898.

. Application fil ed September 10, 1897. Serial No. 651,218. (No model.)

T0 (bu ch/0m, it may-concern.

Be it known that I, SAMUEL J. MCDONA D, of Gallatin, in the county of Daviess and Stateof Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Neck-Yokes, of which the following'is a full, clear, and exact description; 4 v

Theobjectofthe-invention is to provide a centenring'or, loop which will have aswivel connection with .the cross-pole of the neckyoke, thus enabling the center ring or loop to accommodate itself to any necessary position.

A further object of the invention is to so assemble the parts that they will operate freely and with a minimum of wear and, furthermore, ,to provide a means whereby there will be no rattling. 7

Another object of the invention is to so construct the center ring or'loop that it will not leave the tongue in the event the traces or tugs of the harness should become broken and to construct the yokeas an entirety in an exceedingly simple yet'durable and economic manner. V I

The invention consists in 1 the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set'forth ,and point; ed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specificatiom';

in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective View ofthe neckyoke, illustrating it applied to a pole-tip;

Fig. 2 is 'a vertical section through the neckyoke connection and through thecross-pole, the pole-tip being shown in dotted lines. Fig.

.3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig.

2; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the swivel-head of the neck-yoke, illustrating a slight modification in the construction of the same.

A clip A is provided, adapted to be carried over the cross-pole O in any approved manner, and thesaid-clip is provided interiorly at each of its sides with a socket-block 10. These blocks are alike in construction and are adapted to practically engage one with the other. Each block is secured ordinarily to the cl-ip'by means of pivots 11, located at the top portion of the block, extensions being pro- "vided for that purpose.

section and tapering longitudinally.

Each block is provided with a segmental recess, the walls where- 'of extend downwardly and inwardly from the upper surfaces of the blocks, and when the two blocks are brought together the two recesses 12 will form a socket circular in cross- The socket-blocks are further provided with recesses-13 in their under faces, and the socketblocks are connected with each other and with the clip through the medium of bolts 1 1, two being usually employed, the said bolts having proper nuts applied. I

The socket formed in the blocks; l0 is adapted to receive the tapering body portion of a swivel-head B. p The tapering bodyof thehead is free to turn in-the socket formed in the blocks, and the body of the head is pro-.

vided at its lower end with anannular flange 15, which extends within the; recess 13 ofthe socket-blocks, while between the upper face of the head-flange 15 and the upper wall of the recess13 in the socket-blocks a washer 16, preferably of an elastic material, is placed, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Ears 16 are projected downward fromopposite sides of the flange portion of the swivel-head. A bolt 17 is passed through the swivel-head and likewise through the cross-pole O, the head of the bolt being countersunk in the flange 15 of the heath-while the threaded end of the bolt eX- tends through and beyond the upper surface of theclip, being provided with a suitable nutlSQ This bolt serves the dual purpose of attaching the clip and pole-supporting members tothe cross-pole and of taking up any wear that may occur on the washers 16, while the cross-bolts 14 may be utilized for taking "up any wear incident to the socket-faces of the blocks 10. The center ring or loop D is of the ordinary construction, being adapted to receive a pole-tip D; but the center ring or loop at its upper end is increased inthickness .to form a head 19, the tip 20 whereof is convexed, and the head portion of the center ring is provided with a forwardly-extending horizontal section 21, in which ahorizontal slot 22 is made. The head portion of thecenter ring is pivoted to the cars 16 of the swivelhead by means of a pivot-pin 2Q, as-shown in Fi 2.

A jaw or gripping-block 23, of elastic material and of angular construction, is provided for the head of the center ring, the horizontal member of the said jaw orgrippingblockbeing introduced into the slot 2'13 of the ringhead, while its other member extends downwardly and forwardly, being provided upon its under face with a coneaved surface SI for engagement with the pole-tip. This jaw or gripping-block, which is usually of rubber, will cling so tightly to the pole-tip as to hold the neck-yoke in engagement with the said pole-tip no matter what accident may happen to the harness. A bolt or a screw 25 is passed down through the extension of the head ofthe center ring and through thehorizontal member of the jaw or gripping-block.

In Fig. t I have illustrated a slight modification of the device, in which instead ofemploying a long bolt 17 a short bolt 26 is substituted, its head being countersunk in the swivel-head in like manner as the bolt 1.7; but at the upper end of the bolt 26 a collar 27 is formed, which is tightly fitted in a recess made in the upper portion of the said swivelhead. Thus should the swivel-head break where its body connects with the shank the two parts will be firmly tied together. This same result may be obtained when a longer bolt 17 is employed by forming a collar corresponding to the collar 27 on the bolt 17 and countersinking the collar in the head in the same manner as shown in Fig. i.

In order to prevent the parts of the neckyoke from rattling, I employ a sprin g 30,which consists of a strip bent upon itself to form an upper long member (L and a shorter lower member a, the upper or longer member terminating in a curved foot (L This curved foot is introduced between the eonvexed surface 20 of the center ring or loop and the bot tom of the swivel-head, engaging with both, while the shorter member a of the spring ongages with the forward extension from the head of the center ring or loop. Besides acting as a handle therefor this spring serves to swing the ring backward, so that it will normally grip the pole with its upper forward edge and prevent its slipping oil the pole in case of accident. To remove the ring from the pole,it should be engaged byits lowerside.

Ilaving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a neck-yoke, the combination with a clip, socket-blocks located within the said clip and adjustable toward each other, said blocks being provided with a tapering opening, and a tapering head swiveled in the opening in the said socket-blocks, the head being pro vided with a flange at its bottom and extensions from the flange, of a center ring or loop pivoted in the extensions from the swivelhead, the said center ring or loop being provided with a slotted head, and an elastic gripping jaw or block secured in the slotted portion of the head, a member of the said jaw or gripping-block extending downwardly and forwardly at the front portion of the said center ring or loop, as and for the purpose specifled,

2. In a neck-yoke, the combination with a clip, socket-blocks adjustably secured in the said clip, said blocks being provided with a tapering opening, and being also provided with a bottom recess, of a head swiveled in the tapering opening in the said blocks, the head being provided with a flange extending into the lower recess of the blocks, a washer interposed between the blocks and the flange of the head, a center ring or loop pivotally con nectcd with the said swiveled. head, and a spring bearing upon the cross-pole and ring and acting to swing the lower edge of the ring backward, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a neck-yoke, the combination with a clip, s0cket-blocks :uljustably secured in the said clip, said blocks being provided with a tapering opening and being also provided with a bottom recess, of a head swivcled in the tapering opening in the said blocks, the head being provided with a flange extending into the lower recess of; the blocks, a washer interposed between the blocks and the flange of the head, a center ring or loop pivotally connected with the said swivel-hcad,a bolt passed through the said swivel-head and :ulaptcd to strengthen the same, and an elastic jaw or gripping-block of angular construction, one member whereof is secured at the upper portion of the center ring or loop, the other member extending downwardly and forwardly at the upper portion of the said ring or loop, for the purpose set forth.

I. In a neck-yoke, the combination with a clip, a head swiveled in the said clip, and a center ring or loop pivoted to the said head, of a spring adapted to act as an antirattler, the said spring comprising two members, one member whereof is longer than the other, the longer member being provided with a curved extremity adapted for engagement with the curved upper portion of the center ring or loop and for engagement with the swivel-head, the shorter member of the spring engaging with the center ring orloop in advance of the point of engagement of the longer member, for the purpose set forth.

5. A neck-yoke connection, comprising a plate adapted to embrace the cross-pole, independent socket-blocks between the ends of said plate the socket-blocks being inwardly coneaved and forming a central socket between them when in place, bolts passing through said blocks and the ends of the plate, and pivot-blocks occupying the socket be tween said blocks and having a pole-ring attached.

(3. A neck-yoke connection, comprising a plate adapted to embrace the cross-pole and forminga clip, independent socket-blocksbetween the ends of said. clip the sooket-blocks being inwardly concavcd and forming central socket between them, bolts passing through said blocks and the ends of the clip,

IIO

a pivot-block within the socket between said blocks andhaving ears projecting from opposite sides thereof, and a pole-ring pivoted between said ears.

7. A neck-yoke having a pole-ring pivoted thereon to swing to the front and rear, a spring between the cross-pole and ring acting to swing the lower edge of the ring backward.

8. A neck-yoke having a pole-ring pivoted thereon to swing to the front and rear, and also to swivel, and a spring between the ring and its support, and adapted to swing the lower edge of the ring to the rear.

9. A neck-yoke connection, comprising a clip engaging the cross-pole, a pole-ring pivoted thereon to swing to the front and rear, the upper forward edge of the ring being adapted to engage and bite the pole when swung into contact therewith, and a fiat doubled spring interposed between the clip and ring and engaging the forward edge of said rlng.

10. A po1e-ring for neok-yokes, comprising a ring adapted for a pivotal suspension and having a slot in its upper forward part, a ledge above said slot and projecting forward therefrom, and a block of rubber in said slot extending downward'to engagement with the SAMUEL J. MCDONALD.

\Vitnesses:

S. T. BROSIUS, J. E. OHAMBLIN. 

